Intelligence Squared U.S. Launches Podcast Series on the Pandemic Endgame

Nonpartisan debate podcast Intelligence Squared U.S. is launching a three-part series on "Ending the Pandemic" today, inviting experts on to debate vital questions about vaccine distribution, the final stages of the pandemic, and what comes next.

The first episode debates whether the COVID-19 vaccines should remain patented or, as some countries are pushing for, be made available to any company to manufacture. Thomas Cueni, director-general of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations, argues they should remain patented. Brook Baker, a law professor at Northeastern specializing in intellectual property and access to medicines, disagrees. Listen to the debate here: https://smarturl.it/iq2podcast

See below for more on the three episodes in Intelligence Squared's podcast series "Agree to Disagree: Ending the Pandemic."

• Episode One: Should COVID-19 vaccines keep their patent protections?
  Release date: 4/9/21
  India and South Africa have petitioned the World Trade Organization to suspend intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines. These nations - along with a coalition of scholars, activists, and nonprofit organizations - argue that developing nations are at risk of waiting years to get full access to the vaccines unless these protections are lifted. But their opponents say suspending patent protections will do little to speed up the manufacturing process. Instead, undermining these protections will ensure that the next time the world needs an emergency vaccine, governments and pharmaceuticals will be unable to act as swiftly. It's a debate emblematic of the uneven vaccine rollout, and strikes at the core of society's ability to act quickly. 

• Episode Two: Do we need vaccine passports?
  Release Date: 5/7
  Will you need a digital passport to prove you've been vaccinated the next time you try to board a flight or get into a concert? The idea is already being tested in Israel and governments around the world - including the Biden administration - are exploring what vaccine credentials might look like. For some, these digital tools are a golden ticket back to "normal" life. But for others, these tools raise dire concerns about privacy, civil rights, and equitable access.

• Episode Three: Can employers and schools require vaccines?
  Release Date: 6/11
  More Americans are becoming eligible for the vaccine every day and employers are facing a tough choice: Will they require employees to get the jab in order to come back to the office? And what about school children and their caregivers? This question puts public health concerns up for debate against ideals of personal liberty and individual freedom under the law.

ABOUT INTELLIGENCE SQUARED U.S. DEBATES (IQ2US)
A non-partisan, non-profit organization, Intelligence Squared U.S. was founded to address a fundamental problem in America: the extreme polarization of our nation and our politics. Their mission is to restore critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to American public discourse. The award-winning debate series reaches millions of viewers and listeners through multi-platform distribution, including public radio, podcasts, live streaming, newsletters, interactive digital content, and on-demand apps including Roku and Apple TV. With over 180 debates and counting, Intelligence Squared U.S. has encouraged the public to "think twice" on a wide range of provocative topics. Author and ABC News correspondent John Donvan has moderated IQ2US since 2008.

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